Summary: Dealing with obstacles to church growth spiritual and practical

Facing the Giants

1 Sam 17:1-11(KJV)

1 Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh, which belongeth to Judah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephesdammim.

2 And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines.

3 And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them.

4 And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.

5 And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass.

6 And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders.

7 And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him.

8 And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.

9 If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.

10 And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.

11 When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.

For CWC to move forward in God’s will and purpose there are certain giants that she must face.

I. Giant: Fear of Failure

A. Illustration: Goliath

B. God will not let us fail when we put our trust in Him.

1 Sam 3:19(KJV)

19 And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.

II. Giant: Fear of doing things Different

A. Bible History

1. Ark

2. Red Sea

3. Jericho

4. Jordon

5. Gideon’s Army reduced

B. Church History

1. Wesley

2. Calvin

3. Singing in Evangelical Churches

4. Sunday School

5. The giant of Culture and Comfort must be slain so that by all means “we may win some”

III. Giant: Fear to Worship with Liberty

A. Either or Mentality

1. The goal of scripture is worship

B. Illustration: Spoke and wheel

1. Liberated Spirit-filled wrship is integral to evangelism and the drawing of people to Christ.

Ps 40:3(TLB)

3 He has given me a new song to sing, of praises to our God. Now many will hear of the glorious things he did for me, and stand in awe before the Lord, and put their trust in him.

IV. Giant: Fear of Circumstances (Trials & Adversity)

A. Circumstances will pass

B. Our circumstances will vanish and be forgotten when we inherit our heavenly reward.

V. Giant: Failure to believe in God

A. Victory

1. Israel and 12 Spies

B. Provision